Ample maize harvest cushions South African households as the El Niño begins

South Africa has had an excellent maize harvest in the 2025-26 production year. The harvest is now estimated at 17.7 million tonnes, up 6% year on year and the largest on record. When South Africa’s

South Africa has had an excellent maize harvest in the 2025-26 production year. The harvest is now estimated at 17.7 million tonnes, up 6% year on year and the largest on record. When South Africa’s Crop Estimates Committee released its monthly production figures on October 27, we focused more on the intentions to plan for the 2026-27 season, as this is a focus in the country, with farmers tilling the land nationwide presently. But we neglected to mention that, in its 9th production estimates, t